Long-lived bands almost by definition experience, at one time or another and for one reason or another, the loss of a key member — at which time they continue and fans argue about whether their continued work is legit without Absent Rocker.

Case in point are Barenaked Ladies, who rose to fame behind the harmonies and charm of one-two-punch frontmen Ed Robertson and Steven Page. But Page left the band several years ago and, while BNL soldiers on, a lot of folks think they've never recovered the original chemistry.

The Ladies have a brand new album, "Silverball," and it's full of mostly-Robertson-penned whimsical pop. But are there any of their immortal songs here? You be the judge.

BNL has always been a fun live band — and are even without Page — and the bill is intriguingly bolstered by Violent Femmes and ex-Men at Work songwriter Colin Hay, whose "Overkill" remains one of the truly great tunes of the '80s.

— Rick Koster

Barenaked Ladies, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Mohegan Sun Arena; $33.50; 1-888-664-3426.